Blue Chair
14x11 inches
oil on canvas
2018
SOLD
it’s always a curious thing to watch paintings find a new home.
Sometimes there are pieces that sit in my studio for years without catching anyone’s eye, and others sell while still wet on the easel.
This April has been incredibly busy for me. I’ve talked in my previous blog post about the pace picking up in terms of interactions, new connections and exciting opportunities. (I am not ready to spill the beans about those yet. I’ll just say that there is a strong possibility that something that I’ve been wanting to do for years might just be happening very soon.)
Swan Boat
15x10 inches
acrylic on paper
2018
SOLD
reference image credit Sergey Polyakov
Shopping for art during the lockdown
Beside interviews, conversations and live painting on Instagram, I have been giving a nice bit of business to the USPS! I had no idea until this month that USPS will pick up packages from my front door. I don’t know if that is due to our current pandemic and lockdown situation, but whatever the reason, I am SOOOO grateful to my friendly wonderful mailman for making the process of shipping smaller artwork so easy and seamless!!!
I heard from a few folks that being stuck at home makes them want to shop. I would imagine that means new shiny gadgets, fun spring clothes bought in hopes of re-entering the world with panache, or maybe home improvement tools and materials (since we are at home all those DIY aspirations are staring us directly in the face. Trust me, I know!) However it comes as a bit of a surprise and I can’t be any more grateful that so many are now shopping for original art.
Pink Barbie
12x9 inches
oil on paper
2019
SOLD
eBay financed my arts education (well, partially)
I’ve been selling smaller works on paper, either preparatory sketches, visual notes or much older works on eBay since 2012. It was actually my first foray into selling artwork. I was in school and working furiously, trying to make up for decades of not painting. And I didn’t have any storage space for my quickly accumulating paintings. So a friend recommended I try posting them on eBay. The idea that anyone would want to buy my student work seemed quite presumptuous, but I hate clutter and I was drowning in figure painting studies, so I listed a few for super cheap, barely covering shipping. And to my surprise they started selling!
Pink Babushka
12x9 inches
acrylic on paper
2018
SOLD
It was an enormous encouragement.
I was just starting to paint, all I wanted was to learn, explore and make more. I could never imagine that I could make even $10 from any of those early sketches. But I did. My under-bed artwork storage stopped overflowing and shortly after starting school I was covering all my supply costs by selling studies online.
This early confidence boost expanded my thinking and instead of viewing myself as a late bloomer and a forever chasing technical skills student, I felt more sure about showing my paintings locally.
Voluptuous
12x9 inches
acrylic on paper
2012
SOLD
It was great to raise a little cash to offset school expenses, but mainly it was exciting to see my paintings, my ideas and visions, leave the studio and start a new life in collectors’ homes. So many artists I know have a hard time selling their work even if they really need the money. They often feel emotionally attached to particular pieces, thinking like they’ll never make another one like it again, that this is their best work and they should hold onto it. And often it’s because there is too much self doubt and not feeling like the work is good enough to see the light of day, let alone be offered for sale.
Sunny Goat
12x9 inches
oil on paper
2020
SOLD
I am happy to say that over the years I have encouraged quite a few fellow artists to overcome this resistance and share their work with the world, whether in an exhibition in real life or by listing it for sale online or on their social media.
And seeing other artists struggle with these ideas of being in the spot light, being judged or not being able to part with their work, made me realize just how fortunate I am in this regard. Because I LOVE selling paintings.
Now, don’t get me wrong, I love making paintings.
To me “painting” is always a verb.
I love the process, the engagement, the flow of being that alters time, my perception and creates a trans-like meditative, yet highly alert and analytical, space. And I enjoy that space immensely. And when the trance ends, I end up with the painting, the noun. And since I love the process way too much, I end up with lots of paintings. So I feel supremely grateful to anyone who relieves me of the burden of having to store them and in return gives me money to support my painting habit!
PS:
all the images in this blog are of paintings that sold in April 2020
But not to worry, there are plenty more available for sale.
Just head over to my shop and find one or three for yourself!